Daylight plate-developing tray



F. D. RAMEAU.

DAYLIGHT PLATE DEVELOPING TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1914.

1,195,498. Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK D. RAMEAU, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

DAYLIGHT PLATE-DEVELOPING TRAY.

Application filed September 28, 1914.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK D. RA- MnAu, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Seattle, in the county of King, State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Daylight Plate-Developing Trays; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to photographic apparatus, particularly todevices for developing photographic plates, and has for its object theprovision of a novel and etli cient device whereby photographic platesmay be transferred directly from the ordinary plate holder into adeveloping tray, the entire operation being accomplished in broaddaylight without danger of exposure of the plate.

An important object is the provision of a device of this characterhaving means whereby the spring pressed bar holding the plates in theholder may be moved for releasing the plate so that it may be depositedwithin the tray.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character havingmeans whereby the plate holder containing the plate or plates to bedeveloped may be securely clamped in relation to the tray.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which willbe simple and inexpensive in manufacture, efficient and durable inservice, and a general im provement of the art.

IVith these and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of thedevice complete showing a plate holder in position, Fig. 2 is a top planview, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, Fig. 4 is a similar viewshowing the spring pressed bar of a plate holder pulled back, and Fig. 5is a perspective view of the tray engaging frame.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 10 designates atray such as is commonly employed in the developing of photographicplates. One end of the tray is provided with a tube 11, curved as shownand provided with a funnel 12 extending up Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 863,958.

wardly therefrom adjacent the highest portion of the curve. Disposedupon the top of the tray 10 is a block or plate 13, rectangular in shapeand provided with an opening 14 slightly larger than the plates to bedeveloped. Disposed above the block 13 is a block or plate 15 providedat one end with a rib 16 extending downwardly from its un der face. Theblock 15 is connected with the block 13 by a plurality of leaf-springs17 secured upon the block 13 as shown at 18 and secured to the block 15as shown at 19. These springs urge the block 15 downwardly in relationto the block 13.

In the use of the device, a plate holder of the ordinary type comprisinga frame 20, partition 21, slides 22 and the spring pressed bars 23retaining the plates 24 in position, is inserted between the blocks 13and 15 until the end of the holder engages the rib 16. By virtue of thesprings 17, the plate holder will be held firmly in clamped relationbetween the blocks 18 and 15 so that light may not enter with theconsequent ruining of the plate. The slide 22 covering the lowermostplate, in case a double plate holder is used, is then removed.

In order to provide means whereby the spring pressed bar 23 may beretracted out of engagement with the plate to allow the plate to dropinto the tray 10, I provide a rod 25 extending through one side of theblock 13 and into the opening 14, and provided upon its inner end withan angular portion 26 and upon its outer end with a knurled head 27.After the plate is inserted as previously described and the lower slide22 removed, the operator grasps the head 27 and turns the rod 25 untilthe end 26 extends upwardly and engages the edge of the spring pressedbar 23. By then pulling upon the head 27, the bar 23 will be movedinwardly against the resistance of the spring,

whereupon the plate 24 will drop out of the holder, through the opening14 and onto the bottom of the tray 10. Developing solution are thensuccessively introduced and poured off in the same manner. Afterdevelopment is complete, the blocks 13 and 15 and the plate holder areremoved, to permit access to the tray.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawing it will beapparent that l have thus provided a novel and simple device wherebyphotographic plates may be transferred directly to a tray fordevelopment in broad daylight without danger of exposing the plate tolight.

lit will be readily understood that I reserve the right to make variouschanges in the form, construction and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or limiting the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, ll claim:

1. The combination with a photographic developing tray, of a framedisposed on the top of the tray, a clamping block disposed above theframe and adapted to coact with said frame in holding a plate holder, alug formed integral on the lower face of the clamping block and adaptedto prevent longitudinal movement in one direction of the plate holder,and means for holding and releasing the plate.

2. A photographic developing tray provided with a filling and dischargetube, a frame disposed on the top of the tray, a resiliently supportedclamping block placed above the frame and adapted to coact with saidframe in holding a plate holder, a lug formed integral on the lower faceof the clamping block and adapted to prevent longitudinal movement inone direction of the plate holder, and means for holding and releasingthe plates.

3. A photographic developing tray comprising a body member, curved tubelocated at one end of the body member adapted to be used in emptying thecontents of the developing tray, a funnel disposed at the top of thetube adapted to facilitate easy filling of the tray, upwardly projectingribs formed integral with the bottom for holding the plates to bedeveloped in spaced re- FREDERICK D. RAMEAU.

Witnesses MATT. BREWER, H. REUL.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe (tommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

